ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the typical development of attention, social cognition, memory, and executive function. Instead, an abbreviated description of typical development in each area is provided to enable readers to understand how these areas develop simultaneously and relate to social communication development. It discusses the three systems devoted to attention develop within the first year of life: the reticular activating system, the posterior attentional system and anterior attentional system. The chapter describes the development of memory as two major components; implicit and explicit memory. Memory can be described as the process of how past experiences affect the brain's future responses. Implicit memories can be described as unconscious summaries of mental or perceptual models of an experience and is associated with such brain structures as the amygdala and the limbic system. Explicit memory can be described as conscious summaries of events, words, or concepts.
